Health Library

Discharge Instructions: Taking Your Pulse

Taking your pulse is a way to measure your heart rate. When you take your pulse, you are feeling the force of blood as it's pumped from your heart into other parts of your body. You may need to take your pulse regularly. Or you may just need to take it when you exercise or when you feel something is wrong.

1. Find Your Pulse

With your first 2 fingers (index and middle fingers), press lightly on the inside of your wrist, just below the base of the thumb. You should not be pressing on a bone.

The beats you feel are your pulse. If you can't find your pulse, try moving your fingers slightly to a new spot.

2. Take Your Pulse

Count the beats you feel in your wrist as you watch the second hand on a clock. You may be told to count the beats for 6 seconds and then multiply that number by 10. Or you may be told to count for a full minute.

The number you get is your pulse measurement. It is measured in beats per minute (bpm). A normal pulse is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. The beats should be regular (evenly spaced).

3. Write Down the Results

Write down your pulse each time you take it. You may be asked to bring the results with you each time you visit the health care provider.